Animated display



l NVENTOR ERNEST R. KONIKSDN United States Patent 2,884,200 ANIMATEDDISPLAY Ernest R. Konikson, Erskine, Minn.

Application October 24, 1957, Serial No. 692,171

2 Claims. (Cl. 239-19) This invention relates to moving displays andmore particularly to such apparatus of the type which is operated byhydraulic power.

An object of my invention is to provide an animated display of simpleand inexpensive construction and operation for use in the garden orlawn.

Another object of my invention is the provision, in apparatus of theclass described, of a mechanism wherein flowing water serves the dualpurpose of causing the display to operate, that is, causing the figureto appear as though he is pumping water, and of causing the water to bedistributed for application to vegetation in the vicinity of thedisplay.

-A further object of my invention is to provide a wateroperated animateddisplay wherein the water produces a spray which is collected and causedto drive a pumping apparatus in such a manner as to make it appear thatthe figure of the man is pumping and to further make it appear thatwater is actually being pumped.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to thesame or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view, partly broken away to show the workingmechanism of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail section view taken on a horizontal plane,substantially at 22 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detail section view taken on a substantially vertical planeas indicated at 3-3 in Fig. 1, and showing the rotating mechanism in adifferent position than that shown in Fig. 1.

One form of the present invention is shown in the drawings and isdescribed herein.

The display device, which is indicated in general by numeral has a rigidbase 11 to which the upstanding framework is attached. As a portion ofthe framework, I provide a housing 12 which has a substantiallycontinuous upright sidewall 13 therearound having the lower edge portionthereof secured to the base 11 as by angle brackets 14 which arerespectively secured to the base and the wall as by screws 15. Thebottom edge of the wall 13 is spaced upwardly from the base 11 to definea water discharging slot or area 16 therebetween. A deck 17 is securedto the upper edge portion of the wall 13 and is provided with acontinuous upstanding waterretaining wall portion 18 around theperiphery thereof and crimped to the upper edge of the wall 13. The deck17 has a water-discharging aperture or drain hole 19 therein.

A pump structure 20 is afiixed on the deck 17 as by screws and the pumpstructure is provided with the conventional spout 21 and handle 22. Itwill be noted that the pump structure 20 is hollow at 23, and a suitablefulcrum 24 is provided for mounting the handle 22.

A short length of conduit, consisting in a rigid pipe 25 is affixed inthe wall 13 as by nuts 26 for mounting a female hose coupling 27 on thedisplay. A conduit I Patented Apr. 28,1959

or hose 28 extends upwardly from the pipe 25 and along the inside ofwall 13 and communicates with a length of tubing 29 which extendsthrough and is afiixed to the deck 17. The tubing 29 is connected to asecond length of hose 30 which lies on the deck 17 and extends aroundthe periphery thereof. The discharge end 30a of hose 30 is coupled witha length of tubing 31 which is embedded in the sidewall of the pumpstructure 20 and extends upwardly therethrough into the spout 21 todeliver a small stream of water outwardly from the spout. The hose 30 ispreforated along its length as at 32 and 33 for spraying water aroundthe periphery of the display. It will be noted that the perforations 32direct the water outwardly from the display and the perforation 33directs water inwardly onto a portion of the deck 17. The water suppliedonto the deck in this manner will drain ofi through the hole 19.

The stream of water which emits from the spout 21, or actually the endof tubing 31, is discharged into an ornamental watering can 34 whichhangs by its hail from the spout 21. The can 34 has an apertured bottom35 to discharge the water therefrom onto the deck 17.

Means are provided for confining the water applied to the deck in thearea of the drain 19 and in the form shown, such means comprise aretaining wall 36 which is afiixed as by soldering to the deck and whichextends across the deck between the hose 30 and the pump structure 20.

An ornamental figure of a person 37 is secured at its feet by screws orthe like to the deck 17, and the hands 38 of the figure are afiixed asby gluing or the like to thepump handle 22. The figure is jointed, as atthe elbows, shoulders, and hips, by suitable pins 39 so as to permit thefigure to bend in the manner of a person pumping water.

Means are provided for producing, in response to the flow of water,movement of the pump handle and of the figure of the person. Such meansinclude a water wheel indicated in general by numeral 40 which has aplurality of cups 41 carried on a wheel 42 which is affixed to a shaft43 as by set screw 44 and is supported from the standards 45 and 46 inalignment with and below the drain 19. Shaft 43 extends through abearing aperture in the standard 46 and through a slot 45a in thestandard 45 and is retained against longitudinal movement by a pluralityof washers 47 and keys 48. The standards 45 and 46 are affixed as bybolts 49 to the base 11. A pitman oscillator is provided between theshaft 43 and the pump handle for producing oscillatory movement of thepump handle. An eccentric 50 is afiixed on the shaft 43 and is rotatablyconnected to a link 51, the upper end of which is swingably connected tothe inner end of the pump handle.

It will therefore be seen that when water is supplied into the hose 31,a portion of the water is sprayed outwardly, and the remainder of thewater is applied onto the deck 17, partly through the perforation 33 andpartly through the tubing 31 and the pump spout. The water will draindownwardly through the opening 19 into the cups 41 for rotating thewater wheel and driving the eccentric for producing reciprocatingmovement of the link 51 and oscillatory swinging movement of the pumphandle 22. The water supplied serves a multiplicity of purposes inoperating the pump handle and causing the figure of the person to moveas though he were pumping water, and to apply water to the vegetationaround thebase 11 and to spray the remainder of the vegetation from theapertures 32 in the hose.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, detail, arrangement and proportion of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope oiimy. invention which consists of the matterdescribed hereinaand. set. forthin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An animated display to be operated from a supply of running water,comprising aframework having a deck with a water-retaining Wallextending therearound and adrain hole therein, a simulated hand pumpstructure on the deck having a spout spaced above the deck and adjacentthe. drain therein, and also having a pump handle, a figure of a personsecured on the deckv in spaced relation from the drain, and. having hishands secured to the pump handle, a perforated conduit lying. on thedeck in a loop around. the deck periphery and connected with the supplyof running water, the perforations in the conduit directing jets ofwater both outwardly from and onto. the deck, the conduit also extendingthrough the pump structure and discharging water through the spout ontothe deck, a water wheel below the deck and in alignment with the draintherein and journalled on the framework for movement about a horizontalaxis to be driven by the water draining downwardly from the deck, aconnecting link eccentrically connected with the water wheel and alsoconnected with the pump handle for swingably oscillating the same as thewater wheel is driven, whereby the water supplied is discharged throughthe pump spout and onto the deck to drive the water wheel which producesoscillation of the pump handle and moves the figure of the person so asto simulate a pumping action.

2. An animated display to be operated from a supply of runing water,comprising a rigid base, a housing having an open bottom spaced from thebase to permit water flow. therebetween, .means securing the. housing tothe base, the. housing having a horizontal deck at the top thereof withan upright water-retaining wall extending around the periphery thereinand. deck alsov having a drainhole therein, a simulated hand pumpstructure on .hands. secured to .the pump handle, a perforated conduitlying on the deck and having the inlet end extending downwardly throughthe deck and secured to the housing sidewall with a hose fittingthereon, the other end of the conduit extending through the pumpstructure and discharging water through the pump spout onto the deck, apair of upright standards afiixed to the base in spaced relation witheach other, one standard having a bearing aperture therein, the otherstandard having a slot therein opening upwardly through the top of the.standard, a shaft extending through said bearing aperture and lying insaid slot to be rotatable on the standards, means on the shaftrestricting endwise movement thereof and being constructed to permitremoval of the shaft from the bearing aperture when the shaft is liftedout of the slot, 2, water wheel below the deck and in alignment with thedrain therein, and affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, andmeans drivably connecting the shaft withthe pump handle for oscillatingthe handle when the shaft is rotated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS267,689 Hoak Nov. 21, 1882 1,282,212 Fulton Oct. 22, 19.18 1,289,928Schlattau Dec. 31, 1918 1,488,405 Moon Mar. 25, 1924 1,499,223 KleberJune 24, 1924 1,635,978 Ross July 12, 1927 1,701,974 Gunderman Feb. 12,1929 1,880,604 Vandergon Oct. 4, 1932 2,670,992 Long Mar...2,v 1954FOREIGN PATENTS 403,803 Great Britain Jan.- 4, 1934

